>From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: FWD:Deputy Speaker 'Blows Her Mind' Inquires About D100, 000 Opens >Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 10:54:58 -0500 > >Deputy Speaker 'Blows Her Mind' Inquires About D100, 000 Opens > >The Independent (Banjul) >NEWS >December 27, 2002 >Posted to the web December 27, 2002 > >By Pk Jarju >Banjul > >The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly is leading inquiries into the >fate of D100, 000, that is unaccounted for, after it was earmarked for >official entertainment and hotel accommodations for their visiting >counterparts from other countries over the last two years. > >Speaking last week, Honourable Belinda Bidwell who also wanted to know why >nine vacancies in the National Assembly have not been occupied by qualified >Gambians 'looking for jobs', said the amount was given to the National >Assembly to cover expenditure on foreign legislators while they are on >visits to The Gambia. > >According to Honourable Bidwell, D50, 000 was allocated to the National >Assembly last year and the same amount was allocated this year in the >budgetary estimates for the official entertainment and hotel accommodation >of their visiting counterparts and inquired whether the Assembly had >entertained any foreign Parliamentarian or paid any hotel bill with the >reported money. 'If that is not the case, it interests us to know what >happened to the money' she pointed out. > >Honourable Bidwell said it was difficult to fathom the reason why Gambians >are not filling the vacant positions in the National Assembly and >emphasised that such a move would have minimized rampant unemployment rife >in The Gambia. 'It would be of interest to know what happened to the monies >budgeted for those who are to fill such vacancies' she stated. > >The Deputy Speaker who claimed she was addressing issues affecting the >Assembly first before dilating on external ones in her position as Deputy >Speaker, added that since joining the National Assembly, she has personally >asked for toilet papers, soap, biscuits, tea among other things to be given >to the various committees during their sittings, yet such a request has >never been looked into thus giving her no other alternative but to use her >own money to buy such provisions. > >Bidwell explained that despite raising the issue at committee level, no >action was taken by way of addressing it. ' I think it is time we brought >it out in the open so that we all know about it and see where it has gone >wrong and to find possible solutions to it 'she said. > >Honourable Bidwell added that she did not want to be blamed or finger- >pointed at for raising the issue in the Assembly because she had no other >alternative to cause her colleagues to act on a matter of such importance. > >'I want to take my stand as my integrity as Deputy speaker is at stake' she >said noting that she meant any word of what she said and would stand firm >by it anytime in the future. > >'I do not mind leaving the Assembly even today, but as my integrity is at >stake, what I said was correct and I would stand firm by it ' she >emphasised. > >Raising a point of clarification, the Majority Leader Honourable Baba Jobe >noted that as members of the National Assembly anything affecting them >should be discussed through the 'official channel' rather than being made a >matter of open discussion. He added that the National Assembly consists of >various committees to discuss such issues in confidence and away from the >public glare. He reminded the Deputy Speaker that there is no provision in >the standing orders of the Assembly, which allows members to raise >questions regarding money matters. Honourable Jobe stressed that the >National Assembly does not have any coffer of its own but rather depends on >the Central Revenue Department for the disbursement of money as an when the >need arises. > >The Speaker of the National Assembly Sheriff Dibba observed that although >the deputy speaker was right in raising such concerns, yet he felt it was >unnecessary for her to 'blow it up in the open'. Honourable Dibba added >that his office is aware of the Deputy Speaker's concerns in respect of the >vacancies and the unaccounted D100, 000. On the vacancy issue Dibba said >his office has notified the National Assembly authority, which before the >end of the year would announce it to enable suitably qualified candidates >to apply. He added that he personally demanded explanations from the >relevant authorities as to how the National Assembly had spent the money on >official entertainment and hotel accommodation and was still awaiting >answers. Honourable Dibba revealed that the Assembly was at first informed >that the money in question was used to purchase provisions such as coffee, >tea and sugar for members. > >Also contributing on the motion, Mama Kandeh member for Jimara called on >his colleagues to change their attitude towards their work as the nation's >legislatures. He said indifference is breeding room for hatred against the >president, which could have wider implications. According to Honourable >Kandeh, NAMS have a significant role to play in the socio-economic >development of the country and could individually or collectively >complement government's efforts in providing a better environment for the >people they represent in the august Assembly. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface >at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: >[log in to unmask] > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~